Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded the government launch an immediate inquiry into child exploitation in Britain, after Mr Musk doubled down on his criticism of the UK government and accused the prime minister of failing to prosecute child grooming gangs during his time as director of public prosecutions (DPP).
The row spread across British politics as Reform leader Nigel Farage then waded in, criticising the Tories for failing to hold an inquiry while in office.
In the extraordinary new year spat:
Mr Musk attacked Sir Keir’s handling of the grooming scandal, claimed Jess Phillips should be jailed, and demanded the release of Tommy Robinson
Ms Badenoch said an inquiry into child exploitation is “long overdue”
Two Tory ministers wrote a letter to Yvette Cooper and Ms Phillips demanding a probe
Mr Farage took aim at the Tories, saying they had 14 years to launch an inquiry
A Labour MP argued Mr Musk had “pushed it too far this time”
In a series of posts to his social media platform X, the tech billionaire called for safeguarding minister Ms Phillips to be jailed for rejecting calls for a public inquiry into historic child abuse in Oldham, as well as demanding the release of far-right activist Robinson, who was jailed for 18 months for contempt of court last October.
Hours after Mr Musk’s bizarre intervention, Ms Badenoch demanded a national probe into the UK’s “rape gangs scandal”, arguing that “2025 must be the year that the victims start to get justice”.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp and shadow safeguarding minister Alicia Kearns also piled further pressure on the government, writing a letter to Ms Phillips and home secretary Ms Cooper.
The row was triggered after GB News reported the government has formally rejected requests for a Home Office-led inquiry into historic child abuse in Oldham.
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Denne historien er fra January 03, 2025-utgaven av The Independent.
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Lily's big moment of truth
After splitting from her husband and spiralling, Lily Allen has checked herself into a clinic. Zoé Beaty looks at what led the actor and singer to crisis point and where she goes next
Unity Mitford was Hitler's 'Baby Reindeer' stalker
The publication of the British socialite’s diaries has revealed that her infatuation with the Nazi leader went much deeper than many historians had realised, writes Guy Walters
Spurs undone as Everton rediscover scoring touch
Goal-shy Everton embarrassed injury-hit Tottenham with their first Premier League goals since Boxing Day, a one-sided opening 45 minutes paving the way for a 3-2 victory at Goodison Park that piled pressure on Ange Postecoglou.
Labour voters value closer EU ties instead of with US
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned not to \"cosy up to the White House\" as a new poll shows nearly two in three Labour voters believe he should build closer economic and security ties to Europe as Donald Trump returns to power.
Farming drama ploughs on but yields only frustration
Starring Martin Clunes, Out There’ is a dramatic pancake where the rambling plots and core tension are as slippery and inscrutable as some of the local accents, writes Nick Hilton
Reeves put on the back foot after exodus of non-doms
Labour has been accused of trying to have it both ways as Rachel Reeves jets off to Davos to try to attract foreign investment while new figures show a millionaire leaves the country every 45 minutes.
'Beating Australia gives us a lot of belief for Six Nations'
Could this be the year Scotland’s golden generation turn hope into glory? It’s my goal to win something, but that’s also my job,’ fly-half Finn Russell tells Harry Latham-Coyle
Calamitous misfits could be United's 'worst ever team'
As Manchester United celebrated and commemorated their past, they made the wrong sort of history, the sort that led Ruben Amorim to wonder if this is their worst-ever team.
Meet the Maga insurgents taking over at White House
How much damage could the anti-establishment agitators in the new administration do? Gabriel Gatehouse reports
'Putin will not stop and ... so neither will the killing'
Sam Kiley speaks to a former Ukrainian resistance fighter about his operations and why he is sceptical of peace talks
